Despite the fact that I spend a lot of time in London, Switzerland and New York, Africa is the place I know and love best, and my heart will always lie here.

It's a strange paradox that a man gifted with too many talents can fritter them all away without developing a single one to its full.

I write my books in my head, and not in a specific study with a view. The view is from my inner eyes.

It's probably true that everyone has a book in them, although it may not be a very good one.

Failure makes success so much sweeter, and allows you to thumb your nose at the crowds.

They do say that socialism is the ideal philosophy-just as long as you have capitalists to pay for it.

I think one of the most poignant things is unrequited love and loneliness.

When I vacate this sack of old bones I won't care what you do with it. Bury or burn it but don't make much fuss.

Litigation only makes lawyers fat.

Sometimes it is best for men not to attempt to interfere with destiny. Our prayers can be answered in ways which we do not expect and do not welcome.

I don't want children. Why should I let some strange little monster into my life to destroy what to me is a perfect set-up?

My parents had three kids right after the Second World War, and we were all sort of sickly. Then I had a fourth sibling, with very serious asthma. The medical bills... So my parents always struggled.

If America has the right to target Osama bin Laden, or terrorists, of course Israel has the right to defend itself from terrorism.

I deplore any action which denies artistic talent an opportunity to express itself because of prejudice against race origin.

The most successful people in life are the ones who settle their critical issues early and manage them daily.

The novel is always pop art, and the novel is always dying. That's the only way it stays alive. It does really die. I've been thinking about that a lot.

Everybody is damaged goods. Everybody got bumps and dents, ja? But sometimes two people fit together, and the bumps go into the dents, and you have a whole thing like a potato.

The function of music is to release us from the boredom of existence.

All breathing beings are spiritual; this includes everyone who breathes, whether they are animals or humans, carnivores or vegetarians.

But because I could throw so hard when I got to college they made me a pitcher.

I think the family is the place where the most ridiculous and least respectable things in the world go on.